China-Israel journeys up 30 pct in 2013

BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tourists going to Israel rose by 30 percent in 2013 and the average daily spending of 286 U.S. dollars exceeded travellers from other countries, Israeli tourism minister has told Xinhua.

The rapid development of bilateral commercial, technological, agricultural exchanges helped realize 30,000 journeys from China to Israel last year, said Amir Halevi, director general of Israel's Ministry of Tourism.

"Considering over 100 million overseas journeys are made by Chinese people every year, we see more potential in bilateral tourism exchanges," said the minister, "Now we are preparing to receive more Chinese visitors, providing special tour services and recruiting more Chinese guides."